Everyone knows that skill and dexterity with one's feet is a key to success at soccer.

But on Wednesday the Mountain View boys team made excellent use of the infrequent occasions when using hands was permitted.

Just a few minutes into the game, a long throw-in from Cameron Lesslie seemingly had eyes or radar as it sailed over the outstretched fingertips of a couple of Menlo-Atherton defenders all the way to the far side of the goal, where Gabe Quintella headed it past the M-A goalkeeper.

That was just the first of a series of effective throw-ins that helped keep the Spartans on the attack as they went on to a 4-1 victory in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs at Mountain View High.

"We've probably had 10 to 12 goals on those this season," Mountain View coach Jim McGuirk said. "It's been a great weapon.''

Mountain View has a pair of prolific junior forwards in Guillermo Burger (18 goals, 15 assists) and Brad Bumgarner (10 goals, 13 assists). Neither of them scored against Menlo-Atherton, but the Spartans still managed four goals.

"That's the good side of our team,'' Burger said. "If Brad and I get marked up other people can step up.''

A throw-in started the sequence that led to the second goal. Josue Aguilar came up with a carom and crossed it to Jake Caccamo, who headed it home to make the score 2-0 at halftime.

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Chris Barnes scored early in the second half to make it 3-0, and Quintella added his second goal to close out the Mountain View scoring.

Nicky Hug scored late in the second half on a penalty kick for Menlo-Atherton (9-8-3).

Lincoln 1, Pajaro Valley 0: A first-half goal by Jose Pascacio was the difference in a CCS Division II match as Lincoln moves on to play No. 3 seed St. Francis in the quarterfinals Saturday.